DKShi files defamation case against BJP leader

Bengaluru: Congress leader DK Shivakumar has filed a defamation suit of Rs 204 crore against former Union Minister and BJP leader Basanagouda Patil Yatnal.

Shivakumar irked by false and baseless allegations by former Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, filed a defamation suit of Rs 204 crore and has already paid a court fee of Rs 1,04,08,000.

The Judge at Senior Civil Judge and JMFC court, following the defamation suit filed by Shivakumar at his home town Kanakapura, admitted the case and issued summon to Yatnal and the case will be taken up for hearing on September 18.

Speaking on the issue Shivakumar said, “Yatnal alleged that I’m requesting Central Minister to help me in ED and IT cases against me. It has damaged my integrity. It has hurt me a lot. I am a simple Congress legislator. I don’t do any backdoor politics or backstabbing. Today, when my integrity has been questioned, I have filed criminal and civil petitions in Kanakapura Court.”

“These statements have been beamed in electronic and print media too. These are baseless, false, irresponsible and irrelevant statements made by Yatnal. These remarks are passed with malafide intention to malign and to tarnish my public image. This has put a huge question mark on my loyalty, sincerity, integrity and image at party and public level,” he said.

“The false and baseless statements mislead the investigating agencies and mislead the probe. Further, it is damaging to an extent that I am looked at with suspicion by Kanakapura Assembly constituency voters, Congress leaders, workers, and citizens of India in general and Karnataka in particular. It gives an impression that I am sacrificing the trust of people, leaders and voters for my personal and political gains. I have played a pivotal role in bringing Congress – JD(S) government to power,” he added.

(With inputs from ANI)